Discourse on Documentaries, Part I: War and Sheep

In Films by Brock Bourgase

Complex criteria are employed to evaluate documentaries, even more than other genres. Is a documentary judged based on the story or cinematography and direction? The best documentaries showcase a bit of both but a film about a controversial and enthralling issue can surpass a tiresome topic filmed with more craft. Restrepo is a shocking film, chronicling an American platoon’s fifteen month tour in the Korengal Valley. The Korengal region is one of the most dangerous in Afghanistan, on par with Kandahar and the Pashtun regions. Two documentary filmmakers imbedded in the unit film dangerous operations and mundane daily activities. The …